It reminds us to be observant- it can signal a sense of contentment, of knowingness that this place, this time, this feeling is lovely and perfect in and of itself.
AND- It can also signal a sense of dismay, of knowing that this relationship, this place, this time, this feeling is totally wrong and must end.
Both ‘enough’s are turning point moments…. One tells us to bask in the perfection of the moment, and the other insists that action must be taken. Both are profoundly healing and life affirming.
We have to move into the ‘Still point’ in our hearts and minds to process each of the ‘enough’s and then
to remember that: This Too Shall Pass. Life moves in swirls, eddies and flow… this too shall pass….
Enough….
This Woven Woman mixed media weaving feels like one of the most important pieces in my “Oracle of Stillness-Weaving Coherence in the Chaos” series.
The ‘Oracle of Stillness’ exhibition is at the Harcourt House Gallery from Oct 17- Nov 22.
Thanksgiving is my most favorite holiday of the year- Canadian Thanksgiving feels very much like a Harvest celebration, as we turn to face the oncoming winter (which has actually arrived for some of us already… shudder) and say heartfelt THANK YOU for all the amazing goodness and miracles that still, astonishingly, surround us!
So HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone here in Canada, and also I hope that there will be beauty and peace and harmony flowing out in unexpected and lovely ways all over this precious planet!
I was thinking about which of the Woven Women in my “Oracles of Stillness-Weaving Coherence in the Chaos” series of mixed media tapestries, wondering… which one says thank you most clearly, and I realized that ‘Webs of Connection’ pretty much says it all….
Each of the pieces in this series is a kind of blessing, a kind of healing and I hope that people will feel the loving intention that is woven into every stitch of them!
They are at Harcourt House gallery (opening Oct 17- everyone invited 🙂 )
Today, I was talking to a dear friend about the incredibly difficult time that she is going through.
I told her about something that has been really helpful to me when I am in a crisis or challenge or other misery…. it’s a powerful, but simple way of getting through the suffering…
I quietly tell myself: One breath and then another, one step, then another and sometimes, count to 3 and repeat, then repeat again…..
This is the Woven Woman mixed media tapestry that I wove for my ‘Oracle of Stillness: Weaving Coherence in the Chaos”, to illustrate and illuminate this healing practice:
“One breath and then another, one step, then another” is one of 50 Woven Women that I have created over many years for the Oracle of Stillness collection.
Not all 50 of the tapestries have made it into my solo show that is opening Oct 17 at Harcourt House Gallery in Edmonton (the collection is too big and the space can’t hold them all).
If you are in or near Edmonton on the 17th, please come to the opening- my beautiful husband and 2 of his close friends (they have been ‘The Jim Findlay Trio’ for 21 or so years) will be playing for the opening.
It’s going to be special!
I’ll be posting more photos of the pieces in the show as I can gather up the energy to do it (life with Lupus and Long Covid is a challenge and I have to manage my energy reserves-‘taint easy, but like they say: Tis what tis).
AND… I hope that, in these astonishingly unsettling times, the practice of
One breath and then another, one step, then another
I have been working so hard in my studio for the last year, finishing this large body of work (some elements of the show have taken 10 years to complete!)- I call it ‘The Oracle of Stillness- Weaving Coherence in the Chaos’.
It’s a collection of 50 mixed media Woven Women based on dreams, meditation, sacred geometry, connection to the Feminine Divine and synchronicities in response to navigating intense health issues, grief, parodoxical uprisings of joy- all in the midst of extraordinary chaos in the world around us.
The techniques that I have focused on to create the Oracle of Stillness Woven Women are: small loom weaving, tatting and other lace making techniques, crochet, beading, wire work, painting and more. I designed armatures for the pieces and my husband welded them for me for almost all the pieces.
The exhibition opens on October 17th and my Beloved husband, mentor, guide and dearest life friend and partner Jim Findlay will be playing gorgeous music with his wonderful Trio for the Opening.
Last week, my beloved, precious sister in law (sister of my heart) died.
While she was navigating the medical system, I was tatting many many little butterflies, as a way of meditating/prayers of the hands and sending her love…
I love tatting butterflies and then I give them to people as a way of saying thank you to them for their presence.
I thought that she might like to have a bunch of the little butterflies to give to people who have been with her on the journey, but she said that no, she no longer was able to receive physical things.
Instead, she asked me to write a blessing for her that she could print out and carry with her and read it whenever she needed it.
So I wrote her this Butterfly Blessing:
Noreenie’s Butterfly Blessing for her Precious sister, Aleksa:
When I was a little girl, I adored one of my grandmother’s best friends, Mrs Wall, who was kindness incarnate. She was the perfect Granny, exuding comfort, sanctuary, and gentleness. She taught me crafts from her childhood, which made them a precious legacy. I was thrilled when she taught me how to make ‘Yarn Babies’.
When I was designing Tiny Angels for the Weaving Kindness Project, I decided that they needed to be made using wrapping and stitching and not weaving as an homage to darling Mrs Wall, and all the kind people who make the world a better place.
Happily, I have figured out how to use the ‘Yarn Baby’ technique on the Kindness loom.
I am thrilled with these Tiny Angels.
They’re less than 2 inches (5 cm) tall with my signature ‘Hugging Arms’.
I’ve designed two variations- one with a skirt and one with legs. Their wings are shaped like the infinity symbol.
It’s so soothing to make small things that bring a feeling of connection and community.
Making small Kindness treasures to bring comfort and hope can be incredibly healing.
That’s what the Tiny Kindness Angels are all about. I hope that you’ll make lots of them as gifts of compassion and kindness for yourself and for the people in your life.
We are all in this together, and are not alone on our journey. May we all, like Mrs Wall, but each in our own way- weave a legacy of kindness, compassion, generosity and healing love.
The link to buy the pdf pattern for the Tiny Kindness Angels is:
The Kindred Spirit Dolls are sweet little beings that are meant to be a comfort and a delight to you as you make them.
And then, if you choose to give the Kindred Spirit Dolls to your family, friends and fellow travelers, they will carry your good wishes and kindness that are woven into every stitch of these precious little dolls!
The Kindred Spirit Dolls are small- not quite 3 inches (7.5 cm) tall so they can go everywhere with you.
Because the Kindred Spirit dolls have Noreen’s signature hugging arms- they are ready to give a hug at all times, and they can also hold onto small things, too.
The Kindred Spirit Dolls have optional wings, made by following the instructions for the Kindness Butterfly in the video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A11F11Lsp8 that is then stitched to the back of the Kindred Spirit Doll.
Their hair can be made in many ways. They all have embroidered bangs and side wisps, and if you like the simplicity of the ‘Pixie’ style hair, then don’t add any extras.
But, if a more elaborate hairstyle is your cup of tea, then feel free to add twisted topknots and braids or ponytails and fringes.
I hope that the Kindred Spirit Dolls will bring happiness, comfort and good feelings into your life!
The links for all the Weaving Kindness projects, videos, how to’s & etsy shop ordering info is at:
I have designed a 2nd way of making the small Kindness Loom for the Weaving Kindness Project.
The link to order the 2 PDFs of Step by Step Instructions for making both of the Kindness Looms is: LINK
The first PDF shows how to make a Kindness Loom using pins to weave on
and the 2nd PDF shows how to make a Kindness Loom with mat board and cribbage pegs .
Both versions of the Kindness loom work equally well for all the projects I have designed for the Weaving Kindness Project.
The Weaving Kindness Project is about weaving small tokens of caring, kindness, comfort, wishes for good luck, sweet peace and blessings!
To see photos of the Kindness projects that I have designed to weave on the Kindness Pin Loom and links to order the PDF instructions for making them, please go to:
In Springtime, we watch for the return of the migrating birds with anticipation and delight.
I have been hard at work, designing and weaving Tiny Birds of Hope (and other good things) on the Kindness Loom. These tiny birds are very small- in fact they fit into a chicken’s eggshell.
You can order the PDF instructions from my etsy shop at this L I N K
Here’s a closer look at the flock:
In celebration of Springtime, there is the Tiny Chick.
And in hopes of Peace, there is the Dove of Peace and Harmony:
Since life is a dance between the Birds of Sorrow and the Blue Birds of Happiness… here they are:
And speaking of the dance, we all need to dance as wildly as we can manage at times, so here’s a little Flamingo with awkward legs to trip along in a small, but hopeful dance:
Pigeons have a lot to teach us about unexpected beauty (look closely at their iridescence!) and their clever persistence.
And, on a personal note, my daughter’s beloved Quaker Parrot was almost 25 years old when she crossed the Rainbow Bridge a couple of weeks ago. So, it was really important to me to weave my daughter and grandson each a Comfort Tiny Quaker Parrot in homage to and memory of a dear little Feather Friend that we all loved so much! (yes, I did shed tears in the weavings of this Tiny Feather Friend)…
Feel free to weave up Tiny Birds of Hope in homage to your favorite birds, real or imaginary. The Tiny Birds of Hope can hold things in their Hugging Wings or hang out on the end of your pen or pencil or on a houseplant or in a pocket and give you a hug whenever you need one.
Happy Weaving!
The Tiny Birds of Hope are part of my Weaving Kindness Project that is all about saying to yourself and to everyone in your life:
“You matter! I wish you well! Take and give care!”
May the Weaving Kindness project be like a lovely cup of tea ,that brings refreshment and healing and restoration to all concerned. Hugs all round!!!!
All the links for the Weaving Kindness Project are at:
is an homage to the people who have the gift of calm presence that allows us to bask in their sweet kindness, even for a moment.
We all need to rest at times and to take the time to recover from the challenges that can be utterly overwhelming.
The Gentle Restful Rabbit reminds us to refresh and restore ourselves in ways that bring balance and wholeness to ourselves, and to our beautiful planet.
The Weaving Kindness Project is all about saying to yourself and to everyone in your life:
“You matter! I wish you well! Take and give care!”May the Weaving Kindness project be like a lovely cup of tea,that brings refreshment and healing and restoration to all concerned. Hugs all round!!!!
All the links for the Weaving Kindness Project by Noreen Crone-Findlay are at:
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